Integrated automated bill and budget reconciliation, cash flow allocation and payment software system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for an integrated automated bill and budget reconciliation, cash flow allocation, and payment software system are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application 62/105,192 filedJan. 19, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD

The invention generally relates to banking automation. Morespecifically, the invention relates to apparatus and methods formanaging a budget and facilitating cash flow allocation in order toachieve a prioritized set of financial goals.

BACKGROUND

Individuals and small business owners often rely on computer-basedsystems to create a budget, make timely bill payments, maximizeinvestments, and effect various other financial transactions. Using abudget allows individuals and small business owners to set and achievefinancial goals. Such financial goals include, for example, retirement,saving for a home purchase, paying for college, and growing a smallbusiness.

Existing computer-based systems attempt to accommodate an individual'sor a small business owner's customized financial goals by providingautomated bill payment, budgeting software, and spending alerts. Theseexisting computer-based systems allow a user to amend the budget whenfinancial conditions change, such as an increase or decrease in income,the birth of a new child, a new client, and many others. If a change infinancial conditions occurs, and if it is desirable that financial goalsof a higher priority are achieved before those of a lower priority,existing systems require the user to amend the budget manually.

What is a lacking in the existing computer-based systems is theautomatic adjustment of an individual's or a small business owner'sbudget and cash flows, based on prioritized financial goals, whenfinancial conditions change. An automatic adjustment, without requiringany action from the individual or small business owner, would greatlyincrease the likelihood that financial goals of a higher priority aremet more quickly or at all. Accordingly, it would be desirable toprovide individuals and small business owners with a computer-basedsystem for budget automation and financial management that would adjustcash flows on-the-fly, in accordance with a preset prioritized set offinancial goals, when financial conditions change. The subject inventionis directed to these, as well as other, needs.

SUMMARY

It is to be understood that both the following general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive, as claimed. Accordingly, in a first aspect, theinvention is directed to an apparatus comprising a memory having encodedthereon computer-executable instructions and a processor functionallycoupled to the memory and configured, by the computer-executableinstructions, to manage a budget for a user, the budget comprisingmonetary inputs and monetary outputs and data from accounts associatedwith the monetary inputs and monetary outputs; to organize the monetaryoutputs into a prioritization schedule; and to apportion the monetaryinputs, without action from the user, among the monetary outputs basedon the prioritization schedule.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to methods of managing auser's budget. The method comprises preparing and storing the budget,which includes the user's monetary inputs and monetary outputs organizedinto a prioritization schedule. The method further comprises storingdata from accounts associated with the monetary inputs and monetaryoutputs. Finally, the method comprises automatically apportioning, basedon the prioritization schedule, the user's monetary inputs among theuser's monetary outputs and configuring the monetary outputtransactions.

Additional advantages will be set forth in part in the description thatfollows or may be learned by practice. The advantages will be realizedand attained by means of the elements and combinations particularlypointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both theforegoing general description and the following detailed description areexemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for managing a user's budgetaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus for prioritizing a user'sbudget according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for managing a user's budget according to anexemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for prioritizing a user's budget accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for providing financial information to auser according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the present apparatus and methods are disclosed and described, itis to be understood that the apparatus and methods are not limited tospecific methods, specific components, or to particular implementations.It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended tobe limiting.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” oneparticular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When sucha range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the oneparticular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, whenvalues are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent“about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms anotherembodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each ofthe ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, andindependently of the other endpoint.

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described eventor circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includesinstances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where itdoes not.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word“comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and“comprises,” means “including but not limited to,” and is not intendedto exclude, for example, other components, integers or steps.“Exemplary” means “an example of” and is not intended to convey anindication of a preferred or ideal embodiment. “Such as” is not used ina restrictive sense, but for explanatory purposes.

Disclosed are components that can be used to perform the disclosedmethods and systems. These and other components are disclosed herein,and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions,groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specificreference of each various individual and collective combinations andpermutation of these may not be explicitly disclosed, each isspecifically contemplated and described herein, for all methods andsystems. This applies to all aspects of this application including, butnot limited to, steps in disclosed methods. Thus, if there are a varietyof additional steps that can be performed it is understood that each ofthese additional steps can be performed with any specific embodiment orcombination of embodiments of the disclosed methods.

The present apparatus and methods may be understood more readily byreference to the following detailed description of preferred embodimentsand the examples included therein and to the Figures and their previousand following description.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the apparatus andmethods may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software andhardware aspects. Furthermore, the methods and systems may take the formof a computer program product on a computer-readable storage mediumhaving computer-readable program instructions (e.g., computer software)embodied in the storage medium. More particularly, the present apparatusand methods may take the form of web-implemented computer software. Anysuitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized including harddisks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

Embodiments of the apparatus and methods are described below withreference to block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods,systems, apparatuses and computer program products. It will beunderstood that each block of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams andflowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may be loadedonto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions which execute on the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus create a means for implementing the functionsspecified in the flowchart block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including computer-readableinstructions for implementing the function specified in the flowchartblock or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loadedonto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or otherprogrammable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process suchthat the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrationssupport combinations of means for performing the specified functions,combinations of steps for performing the specified functions and programinstruction means for performing the specified functions. It will alsobe understood that each block of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams andflowchart illustrations, can be implemented by special purposehardware-based computer systems that perform the specified functions orsteps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions.

In an aspect, the apparatus and methods described herein are directed tothe management of a user's budget. The user 100 may be, for example, anindividual or a small business owner. In an aspect, the apparatus andmethods comprise a processor and a memory, which is a computer-readablemedium, capable of storing computer-executable instructions, which, whenexecuted by the processor, causes the processor to perform at least thesteps or processes described in this disclosure. In at least oneembodiment, the apparatus and methods function as a computer-accessiblesystem with a graphical user interface (“GUI”) presented on a display.The GUI is the point of access between the user 100 and the system, andthe GUI preferably displays information pertaining to the budget,accounts, monetary inputs and outputs, and other values described below,both in graphical and textual formats.

The user 100 preferably registers with the system. In at least oneembodiment, registration comprises the user 100 submitting any or all ofthe following: first name, middle name, last name, physical address,e-mail address, date of birth, gender, occupation, education level,interests, phone numbers, and usernames and passwords for financialaccount websites associated with the user 100. The system preferablyvalidates any or all of this information.

In at least one exemplary embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 1, the user100 also provides financial information during registration pertainingto monetary inputs 200 and monetary outputs 300. Monetary inputs 200 mayinclude, for example, employment paychecks 205, investment dividends206, annuities 207, interest from savings accounts 208, accountsreceivable, and others currency inflows. Monetary outputs 300 mayinclude, for example, payments to creditors 312, 313, utility payments307, accounts payable, grocery costs 308, automobile payments,transportation costs 309, housing costs 306, investments, and othercurrency outflows. For each monetary input 200 or monetary output 300,the user 100 provides any or all of the following: name of financialinstitution, authorization information, type of account with thefinancial institution, description of the account, and account number orpartial account number. For example, if the financial institution is abank called BankOne, the authorization information is the user's 100username and password to access BankOne's website; the type of accountis a checking account; the description of the account is “User'sBankOne: All Expenses Paid from Here”; and the account number or partialaccount number is the checking account number associated with the user's100 checking account. Many values for these inputs are possible. Forexample, the type of account may be for savings, a credit card, a loan,retirement, investment, and so on, and the user 100 preferably inputsinformation for a plurality of accounts. Based on the values the user100 inputs, the system may request additional information. For example,if the type of account is a 401(k) account, the system may prompt theuser 100 to enter the user's marginal tax rate and the user's employermatch value in order to calculate a true investment return rate.

Once the user 100 enters the information for all accounts associatedwith the user's monetary inputs 200 and outputs 300, including theauthorization information, the information need not be entered again.Rather, the system stores the information securely, and the user 100logs into the system using the username and password selected duringregistration for access to information for all of the user's accounts,budget, financial goals, and other information.

In an aspect, as depicted in FIG. 2, the system manages a budget for theuser 100, the budget comprising the monetary inputs 200 and monetaryoutputs 300 provided by the user 100. Additionally, the system organizesthe monetary inputs 200 and outputs 300 from the budget into aprioritization schedule 500, as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4, which thesystem uses to apportion the monetary inputs among the various monetaryoutputs 602. In an aspect, as depicted in FIG. 4, the system preparesthe prioritization schedule 601 by performing the following steps:collecting information from the user to set financial goals 601(a),collecting monetary inputs and outputs from the user 601(b), processingthe monetary inputs and outputs 601(c), generating a budget 601(d), andsetting the prioritization rules 601(e). In a further aspect, asdepicted in FIG. 2, the system organizes the prioritization schedule 500using an apparatus. The apparatus organizes the prioritization schedule500 in accordance with financial goals 400 provided by the user 100. Forexample, if the user 100 desires to purchase a home 402 in the nearfuture and to purchase a car 401 after the home is purchased, theprioritization schedule 500 will include prioritization rules 550 toreflect the home purchase 551 being a higher-priority financial goalthan the car purchase. Accordingly, the system would apportion a largershare of the monetary inputs 200 into a financial instrument, account,or security intended for saving for a home purchase 310. By way ofillustration, this could include scheduling a transfer of a portion ofthe monetary inputs 200 into a savings account with a high interest rateyield, a certificate of deposit, treasury bonds, or various otherfinancial instruments. Preferably, the system would use a separatefinancial instrument, account, or security intended for savings for eachsavings-based financial goal provided by the user 100. In anotherexample, if the user 100 indicates a desire to pay off credit card debt404 before paying off a student loan 403, the system would apportion alarger share of the monetary inputs 200 to accounts held by the user 100associated with credit cards 552 and a smaller share of the monetaryinputs 200 would be apportioned to accounts held by the user 100associated with student loans. Preferably, if several credit cardaccounts exist, the system would apportion the share of the monetaryinputs for paying down credit card debt in a manner to first pay off thecredit card account accumulating the largest amount of interest beforeother credit cards 553.

In an aspect, as depicted in FIG. 3, after the system apportions themonetary inputs among the monetary outputs 602, the system thengenerates a monetary output data set 605 comprising a transaction date,a transfer or payment amount, and the transfer or payment accountinformation for each of the accounts associated with the monetaryoutputs 300. The system then provides the monetary output data set 605to a third-party payment processor. The system may provide the monetaryoutput data set 605 via the Internet, encrypted e-mail, or other securemeans. Once received by the third-party payment processor, the paymentsor transfers detailed in the monetary output data set 605 are scheduledand executed by the third-party payment processor 606.

Optionally, the system may schedule or execute the payments or transferswithin the monetary output data set 605 by accessing the host system ofeach account via the Internet. Using a series of macros and thecredentials provided by the user 100, the system could, for example,access the website of each account's host system and schedule a paymentor transfer for a date certain between the user's 100 primary checkingaccount and the payment or transfer account. It is to be understood thatthe system may schedule or execute the payments or transfers to each ofthe user's monetary output 300 accounts by other methods not expresslyprovided herein.

In another aspect, the system, without action from the user 100,accesses the accounts provided by the user 100, either duringregistration or after registration, to update the information held inthe system's memory for each account. Such information held in thesystem's memory for each account may include, for example, the accountbalance, interest rate, payment due date, investment portfolio, orvarious other account data pertinent to managing the user's 100 budget.The system may access the accounts daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or atanother interval preferred by the user. The system may, for example,access an account via the Internet and use a series of macros to enterthe account credentials on the account's website. The system may thenuse a series of macros to access portions of the website containinginformation pertinent to the budget, take a screen shot of each accessedpage, and store the screen shots in the memory. The screen shots may beanalyzed by the system using screen scraping, a technology well-known inthe art, to extract relevant account information from the screen shots.The information extracted may then be used by the system to updatepertinent information for the respective account.

Once the accounts are updated, the system may then update the budget andmodify the prioritization schedule 603. For example, if an accountassociated with one of the user's 100 monetary inputs 200 is a depositaccount used for payroll direct deposit by the user's 100 employer, thesystem may modify the budget and prioritization schedule 603 when anincrease in the payroll direct deposit amount is detected. Such anincrease could be the result of new employment, a promotion, or a raise.Accordingly, the budget would now have a higher net monetary inflow, andthe prioritization schedule could then be modified by the system 603 topermit, for example, quicker attainment of a financial goal 400 ofhigher priority. Such a financial goal 400 could include, for example, ahome purchase 402, set by the user 100 at a higher priority than othersavings-related goals 551. The system could modify the prioritizationschedule 500 by apportioning a larger share of the monetary inputs 200to the financial savings instrument associated with the home purchase310. Optionally, the system could apportion a larger share of themonetary inputs 200 among all of the monetary outputs 300 pro rata. Itis to be understood that the system may modify the prioritizationschedule 500 in a manner not expressly given as an example herein.Preferably, the system modifies the prioritization schedule 500 withoutrequiring action from the user 100, and, once a modification isperformed, the system notifies the user of the modification 604 by SMS,e-mail, pop-up window displayed on the GUI, or other means. Thenotification 604 may be a textual or graphical representation of thechanges made to the budget, which could include, for example,information relating to the originally apportioned share of the monetaryinputs 200 for a given monetary output 300 account along with themodified apportionment.

In another aspect, as depicted in FIG. 3, at any time the prioritizationschedule 500 is modified, either by the user 100 or the system, a newmonetary output data set 605 is generated by the system. Once the newmonetary output data set 605 is generated, the system may then provideit to a third-party host system 606, as described above, it may accessthe accounts associated with each monetary output 300 and schedule atransfer or payment, as described above, or the system may take otheraction in order to effect a transfer or payment for each accountincluded within the monetary output data set 605.

In a further aspect, as depicted in FIG. 5, the system aggregates themonetary outputs of the user and the monetary outputs of other users ofthe system into an aggregated data set. Each of the monetary outputs 300of the user 100 may be given a unique identifier to differentiate theindividual outputs of the user from the aggregated outputs of the otherusers. The system then classifies each output in the aggregated data setbased on a predetermined set of classes retained in the system's memory607. The classifications may be provided by the financial institutionsassociated with each monetary output 300. For example, a credit card ordebit card provider may classify the user's 100 transactions and makethe classified transactions available via the user's 100 account on theprovider's website or host system. From the classifications, the systemmay identify, for example, a particular transaction with a grocery storepurchase. The system could then associate the transaction with acategory called “food expenses.” Other categories of monetary outputscould comprise mortgage, rent, utilities, transportation expenses, cellphone expenses, healthcare premiums, credit cards, loans, entertainment,retail shopping, and others.

Preferably, the system classifies the monetary outputs 300 without anyaction from the user 100; however, the user is 100 able to configure theclassifications manually if desired. For example, the system mayclassify a restaurant purchase with the category “food expenses.” Theuser 100 may not wish restaurant purchases to be categorized as a foodexpense, because the user wants to reduce the amount of money spent atrestaurants. Therefore, the user 100 could manually change theclassification to “entertainment expenses,” which may have a lowerallocation on the user's budget than “food expenses.” The system wouldthen classify any future restaurant purchases as an entertainmentexpense.

In another aspect, as depicted in FIG. 5, once the monetary outputswithin the aggregated data set are classified 607, the system thenanalyzes and compares the monetary outputs 300 of the user 100 with theaggregated monetary outputs of other users of the same or similarclassification 606. The analysis and comparison performed by the systemallows the system to provide the user 100 with recommendations on analternative product or service 609 when at least one of the monetaryoutputs 300 of the user 100 differs from the average monetary outputs ofother users in the same classification. The term “differs” may mean themonetary output 300 of the user is greater than the average monetaryoutput of other users in the same classification. This could include,for example, a cell phone payment. If the user's monthly monetary output300 to a cell phone carrier is greater than the average monetary outputof other users, the system could provide an alert to the user 609, viaSMS, e-mail, a pop-up on the GUI, or another method, of the average costof other users, and it may, for example, provide the user 100 with apromotion from a carrier with a lower average cost. The term “differs”could also mean the monetary output 300 of the user 100 is less than theaverage monetary output of other users in the same classification. Thiscould include, for example, the user's monetary output 300 to aretirement account. If the user's 100 monthly monetary output 300 to aretirement account is less than the average monthly monetary output ofother users, the system could provide an alert to the user 609, via SMS,e-mail, a pop-up on the GUI, or another method, of the average monthlyretirement contribution of other users. Further, the alert may beprovided a second time to the user 610, via SMS, e-mail, a pop-up on theGUI, or another method, at a predetermined time set by the user 100 orthe system, reminding the user 100 to take action based on theinformation provided in the alert 609.

In a further aspect, as depicted in FIG. 5, the system provides the user100 with the following financial metric(s) 611 at a predeterminedinterval set by the user 100 or the system: credit report and creditscore; financial data for tax return preparation; and spending history.The system can provide the user with the financial metric(s) 611 in avariety of methods, including SMS, e-mail, a pop-up on the GUI, or otherforms of electronic communication. The credit report and credit scoreinformation may include, for example, a graphical representation of theuser's credit report, the user's 100 credit score, and relatedliterature. Alternatively, the credit report and credit scoreinformation may be provided in a textual format, including, for example,the user's credit report, the user's 100 credit score, and hypertextlinks to online related literature. The tax return preparationinformation may include, for example, a graphical or textualrepresentation of the user's 100 summarized monetary inputs 200 andmonetary outputs 300 by classification. The spending history mayinclude, for example, a graphical comparison of actual spending amountsversus budgeted spending amounts for a variety of transaction categoriesover a specified period of time, such as one month, one year, or otherperiods. Alternatively, the spending history information may be providedin a textual format, including, for example, actual spending amounts,budgeted spending amounts, and an indicator showing whether the actualspending amounts are above or within the budgeted value. It is to beunderstood that the system may provide other types of information foreach of the above categories that is not expressly described herein.

While the apparatus and methods of the invention have been described inconnection with preferred embodiments and specific examples, it is notintended that the scope be limited to the particular embodiments setforth, as the embodiments herein are intended in all respects to beillustrative rather than restrictive.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that anymethod set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps beperformed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim doesnot actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is nototherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that thesteps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way intended thatan order be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possiblenon-express basis for interpretation, including: matters of logic withrespect to arrangement of steps or operational flow; plain meaningderived from grammatical organization or punctuation; the number or typeof embodiments described in the specification.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made without departing from thescope or spirit. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice disclosedherein. It is intended that the specification and examples be consideredas exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit being indicated by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a memory having encodedthereon computer-executable instructions; and a processor functionallycoupled to the memory and configured, by the computer-executableinstructions, to perform at least the following actions: to manage abudget for a user, said budget comprising monetary inputs and monetaryoutputs and data from accounts associated with said monetary inputs andsaid monetary outputs; to organize said monetary outputs into aprioritization schedule; and to apportion said monetary inputs, withoutaction from said user, among said monetary outputs based on saidprioritization schedule.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidprocessor is further configured to prepare said prioritization scheduleby: setting financial goals for said user; collecting from said usersaid monetary inputs and said monetary outputs; collecting identifyinginformation of said accounts associated with said monetary inputs andsaid monetary outputs from said user; processing said financial goals,said monetary inputs, and said monetary outputs; generating said budget;and setting prioritization rules for said prioritization schedule. 3.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor, without action fromsaid user, is further configured to perform at least the followingactions: to access host systems of said accounts associated with saidmonetary inputs and said monetary outputs at a defined frequency; tocapture screen images of said host systems; to perform screen scrapingof said screen images and storing extracted data from accountsassociated with said monetary inputs and said monetary outputs; toanalyze said extracted data; to reapportion said monetary inputs amongsaid monetary outputs; and to modify said prioritization schedule basedon said prioritization rules.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidprocessor is further configured to notify said user when saidprioritization schedule is modified.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said processor is further configured, after said monetary inputsare apportioned among said monetary outputs, to generate a monetaryoutput data set comprising a transaction date, a payment amount, andpayment account information for each of said monetary outputs.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 5, wherein said processor is further configured toprovide a third party host system with said monetary output data set. 7.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor is further configuredto aggregate monetary outputs of other users with said monetary outputsof said user into an aggregated data set.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein said processor is further configured to classify said monetaryoutputs of other users within said aggregated data set based upon apredetermined set of classes.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein saidprocessor is further configured to perform at least the followingactions: to compare said monetary outputs of other users in each of saidclasses within said aggregated data set with said monetary outputs ofsaid user; and to provide said user with information about analternative product or service when at least one of said monetaryoutputs of said user differs from said monetary outputs of said otherusers in said class.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein saidprocessor is further configured to provide a reminder to said user totake an action based on said alternative product or service.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured toperform at least one of the following actions: to provide said user, ata predetermined interval set by said user, credit report information; toprovide said user, for a predetermined period of time set by said user,tax preparation information; and to provide said user, at apredetermined interval set by said user, spending alerts.
 12. A methodof managing a budget for a user, the method comprising: preparing andstoring a budget comprising monetary inputs and monetary outputs;wherein said monetary outputs are organized into a prioritizationschedule; storing data from accounts associated with said monetaryinputs and said monetary outputs; apportioning said monetary inputsamong said monetary outputs, without action from said user, based uponsaid prioritization schedule; and configuring said monetary outputs. 13.The method of claim 12, wherein said prioritization schedule is preparedby: setting financial goals for said user; collecting from said usersaid monetary inputs and said monetary outputs; collecting identifyinginformation of said accounts associated with said monetary inputs andsaid monetary outputs from said user; processing said financial goals,said monetary inputs, and said monetary outputs; generating said budget;and setting prioritization rules for said prioritization schedule. 14.The method of claim 12, wherein said prioritization schedule ismodified, without action from said user, by performing the steps of:accessing host systems of said accounts associated with said monetaryinputs and said monetary outputs at a defined frequency; capturingscreen images of said host systems; performing screen scraping of saidscreen images and storing extracted data from accounts associated withsaid monetary inputs and said monetary outputs; analyzing said extracteddata; reapportioning said monetary inputs among said monetary outputs;and modifying said prioritization schedule based on said prioritizationrules.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein said user is notified whensaid prioritization schedule is modified.
 16. The method of claim 12,further comprising: generating a monetary output data set, specifyinginformation for each monetary output of said user; wherein said monetaryoutput data set is generated after said monetary inputs are apportionedamong said monetary outputs; and said monetary output data set isprovided to a third party host system for transaction processing. 17.The method of claim 16, further comprising: aggregating the monetaryoutputs of other users into an aggregated data set; and classifying saidmonetary outputs of other users within said aggregated data set basedupon a predetermined set of classes.
 18. The method of claim 16, whereinsaid monetary outputs of other users in each of said classes within saidaggregated data set are compared with said monetary outputs of saiduser; and wherein said user is provided with information about analternative product or service when at least one of said monetaryoutputs of said user differs from said monetary outputs of said otherusers in said class.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein said user, at apredetermined later date set by said user, is provided with a reminderto said user to take an action based on said alternative product orservice.
 20. The method of claim 12, further comprising: at least onefinancial metric notification, provided to said user at a predeterminedinterval set by said user, selected from the group consisting of: creditstanding; tax standing; and budget standing.